Trick I learned after getting completely soaked one day with no time to let my boots dry - plastic grocery bags.

It sucks putting your foot into a wet boot for hours on end, and REALLY messes up your feet. Instead, change your socks, put your foot into the grocery bag, then into the wet boot. Your boots may still be wet, but your feet and socks stay dry.

If you're travelling in the lower 48, near civilization, money can buy you almost anything you need. A walmart is never very far away where most people travel (this does NOT apply if you're headed out to the boonies). I carried too much stuff with me on my 10,000 mile jaunt in 2010. In the future i'll save the money I would've spent on the non-essentials, had less to pack/unload/repack at every stop, and likely had more leftover at the end of the trip. YMMV.

Trick I learned after getting completely soaked one day with no time to let my boots dry - plastic grocery bags.

It sucks putting your foot into a wet boot for hours on end, and REALLY messes up your feet. Instead, change your socks, put your foot into the grocery bag, then into the wet boot. Your boots may still be wet, but your feet and socks stay dry.

Awesome common sense idea.
Stashing away a couple small white bags is less space than a pack of smokes!

If you have access to 110v these are handy and pack small. Changing crumpled newspaper is better than nothing, but your boots will still be wet in the AM. My Warm N Safe heated socks also help. The plastic bag idea has to be the best minimalist solution so far though.

Tools, medical emergency supplies and your bike are great, but if you don't know which end of a wrench to use or don't know what have the pills in your med kit are for they are useless.

Bike - Take an advanced course if you have never done it, just cause you've been riding for 20 years doesn't mean you can ride.

Tools - Take a basic course if you're never done more than an oil change on your bike, you'll feel more confident when you're off the map

Medicine - Take an accident scene management class, they teach you good stuff like CPR and how to handle a downed rider.

Top ten for me

1. Riding gear, what you're wearing plus extra gloves for different occasions.
2. Tool kit, full, this includes a tire patch kit and 12v pump and the ability to use them all. Add your manual to this. Make sure a small set of jumper cables is also included.
3. Spare key, hidden on the bike. This goes for your luggage as well. If you can wire create an easy "hot wire" setup that once connected hot wires your bike, do not use a switch, someone will find it, switch it, and either steal your bike or leave it switched on which will kill your battery
4. more money than you think you need
5. less clothes than you think you need
6. Camping gear "basics", leave the fluff at home (chair, pillow, e.t.c.) unless you're over 40 or have a bad back you don't need it.
7. Good luggage, waterproof, strapped down well. No garbage bags and bungee cords.
8. Online access can be great, whether a laptop, netbook or having people to stay by once in a while with a computer. Whether you want to just send a shout to your loved ones, double check the procedure for adjusting your valves or checking your route for road closures of contruction.
9. Electronics and their associated cables. Phone, camera, e.t.c.
10. A couple of comfort items are nice to have, they are different for everyone and may go against rule #6. This can be anything from your favorite pillow or blanky to that July 1974 issue of playboy you stole from your brother when you turned 11. I like my Alaska leather sheepskin, unless it rained it can make a good pillow too.

Tools, medical emergency supplies and your bike are great, but if you don't know which end of a wrench to use or don't know what have the pills in your med kit are for they are useless.

Bike - Take an advanced course if you have never done it, just cause you've been riding for 20 years doesn't mean you can ride.

Tools - Take a basic course if you're never done more than an oil change on your bike, you'll feel more confident when you're off the map

Medicine - Take an accident scene management class, they teach you good stuff like CPR and how to handle a downed rider.

Top ten for me

1. Riding gear, what you're wearing plus extra gloves for different occasions.
2. Tool kit, full, this includes a tire patch kit and 12v pump and the ability to use them all. Add your manual to this. Make sure a small set of jumper cables is also included.
3. Spare key, hidden on the bike. This goes for your luggage as well. If you can wire create an easy "hot wire" setup that once connected hot wires your bike, do not use a switch, someone will find it, switch it, and either steal your bike or leave it switched on which will kill your battery
4. more money than you think you need
5. less clothes than you think you need
6. Camping gear "basics", leave the fluff at home (chair, pillow, e.t.c.) unless you're over 40 or have a bad back you don't need it.
7. Good luggage, waterproof, strapped down well. No garbage bags and bungee cords.
8. Online access can be great, whether a laptop, netbook or having people to stay by once in a while with a computer. Whether you want to just send a shout to your loved ones, double check the procedure for adjusting your valves or checking your route for road closures of contruction.
9. Electronics and their associated cables. Phone, camera, e.t.c.
10. A couple of comfort items are nice to have, they are different for everyone and may go against rule #6. This can be anything from your favorite pillow or blanky to that July 1974 issue of playboy you stole from your brother when you turned 11. I like my Alaska leather sheepskin, unless it rained it can make a good pillow too.

and every grocery store's produce department has lightweight plastic bags for when your ziplocks fail, you really don't want to coat your hands with grease, what i need is an ice pack, hey this waterproof pocket isn't...etc. stuff some in your white bags.

__________________
'00 BMW R1100RT, Gone away: 5 previous BMW's, 3 Honda's, 2 Suzuki's
------------"The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." - Marcus Aurelius

Take whatever it takes to keep you alive until help comes or you can ride or walk to help. And, whatever it takes to keep your bike in rideable shape to get you to that help. Everything else is fluff.....lol

Add or change anything above to this list that takes your fancy.......seriously!